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Additions & Alterations

1854: The Clubhouse is Built
A deceptively simple H-shaped building designed by George Rae in a neo-classical style, the tall windows disguised the presence of an upper floor, not yet in use. The Clubhouse opened in 1854.

1866: The Big Room Bay Window is Added

The recessed window partially obstructed the view of the links. The first bay window, which was designed by JL Fogo and built in 1866, increased the length of the room by some 12 feet.

1873: The North Room is Built

Such was the popularity of billiards amongst the members that a new billiard room was added to the north side of the building. It was designed by Jesse Hall and David Henry in the same neo-classical style used by Rae.

1882: The Southern Side is Altered

John Milne designed the striking southern façade, which is still seen to day as you drive down Golf Place. Originally built to accommodate a card room, two dressing rooms and a club storage area, the new first floor is now the dining room.

1889: The Eastern Side is Altered

A new three-storey block, designed by James Gillespie, was built on the eastern side, mainly to provide additional accommodation for servants. The porch was also added in front of the main entrance on the south side.

1899: The Western Side is Altered

Gillespie and his partner, James Scott, were responsible for one of the more dramatic changes. The two billiard rooms were moved up a floor and a new floor was added above the Big Room, creating the world-famous balcony overlooking the Old Course.

1925: The North-Eastern Corner is Completed

Under the direction of Donald Mills, the north-eastern corner was raised to its current height in 1925.

2002: A New Entrance is Built

As part of a major renovation of the locker room in the basement, a new entrance was built on the north side of the building to allow access to the locker room at basement level.

If you walk around the Clubhouse, you can see where each building phase slotted into the existing structure and, if you look very carefully on the west side of the building, you can still see the remains of of two of the original George Rae windows.

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